Management
Chief Sustainability Officers
Also called: Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), Corporate Sustainability Process Manager, CSR and Sustainability VP (Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Vice President), Sustainability Chancellor
US median pay
$213,990
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+3.2%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
19,100
291,600 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 5/5 · Extensive preparation
What this job is
Communicate and coordinate with management, shareholders, customers, and employees to address sustainability issues. Enact or oversee a corporate sustainability strategy.
What they do day to day
- Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of sustainability programs.
- Develop or execute strategies to address issues such as energy use, resource conservation, recycling, pollution reduction, waste elimination, transportation, education, and building design.
- Develop, or oversee the development of, sustainability evaluation or monitoring systems.
- Supervise employees or volunteers working on sustainability projects.
- Develop sustainability reports, presentations, or proposals for supplier, employee, academia, media, government, public interest, or other groups.
- Develop, or oversee the development of, marketing or outreach media for sustainability projects or events.
- Identify and evaluate pilot projects or programs to enhance the sustainability research agenda.
- Create and maintain sustainability program documents, such as schedules and budgets.
- Formulate or implement sustainability campaign or marketing strategies.
- Research environmental sustainability issues, concerns, or stakeholder interests.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Complex Problem Solving4.0/5
- Systems Evaluation3.9/5
- Systems Analysis3.9/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.9/5
- Persuasion3.9/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9/5
- Coordination3.8/5
- Time Management3.4/5
Knowledge
- English Language4.3/5
- Administration and Management4.2/5
- Law and Government3.7/5
- Communications and Media3.6/5
- Building and Construction3.5/5
- Education and Training3.4/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 5 of 5 — Extensive preparation. Usually a graduate degree (master's, PhD, MD, JD) and extensive experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree, plus 5 years or more of related work experience.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Master's degree74%
- Bachelor's degree19%
Who this job suits
Mostly Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.